BBC Learning English
Words in the News
22nd September 2010
Countries discuss Arctic claims
Politicians and experts from around the world are meeting in Moscow to discuss who will
control the large reserves of oil and gas thought to lie under the Arctic Sea. Steve Rosenberg
reports:
As temperatures rise and the polar ice caps melt, the race is on to unlock the treasures of
the Arctic.
This region is thought to contain one quarter of the world's untapped oil and gas reserves,
and there's stiff competition for them. America, Canada, Denmark and Norway have all
staked territorial claims in the Arctic, and so has Russia.
Three years ago, a Russian expedition planted a titanium flag on the ocean floor beneath the
North Pole. It was a symbol of Moscow's determination to protect what it sees as its national
interest.
In Moscow this week scientists, businessmen and politicians from Arctic nations will discuss
co-operation, but they're also expected to push their countries' claims in the region.
Steve Rosenberg, BBC News, Moscow
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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Vocabulary and definitions
temperatures measures of how hot or cold things are
polar ice caps common terms for the permanently frozen areas of ice at
the North and South Poles
melt turn from a solid to a liquid state
treasures precious and valuable things
untapped unused
reserves goods or resources kept for future use
staked territorial claims argued that the areas belong to their countries
expedition journey, particularly to a place that has not been visited
before, or the group of people that take that journey
titanium a strong, light metal
determination strong desire to achieve something
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11387175
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/09/100922_witn_arctic_claims_page.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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